“Quickie Mickey” slowed the Super Bowl down.
Mickey Guyton told The Associated Press this Week she had earned the nickname for singing the “Star Spangled Banner” in a tight 1:30. She sang the song in just 1:50 before the Los Angeles Rams or Cincinnati Bengals took to the field.
Oddsmakers had set the over/under for the anthem length to 1:35.
The Grammy-nominated country singer said that while she didn’t wish to ruin anyone’s sports bets but it was the Super Bowl so it is most likely it won’t be as fast,” she told the AP.
The anthem was delivered by her in a powerful, emotional rendition that included a minimum amount of frills. A small choir and piano later joined her.
She was still faster that the average Super Bowl anthem, which takes around two minutes.
Guyton didn’t appear to lose or flub any word in the second propositional bet. Those who placed a bet that her outfit was blue will get their money. The royal blue gown she wore was hers.
The 38-year old Texas native, who is best known for “Black Like Me,” became the first Black woman to be nominated in a country category for a Grammy and the first Black solo woman host the ACM Awards. She is a four-time Grammy nominee, and will be up for three more at the April ceremony.
ROCK ROLLS IN THE KICKOFF
Dwayne Johnson released “The Rock.”
The actor stood on the field and grabbed a microphone to introduce the teams, much like an announcer before a big fight.
“Finally! Johnson said, raising his eyebrows as he used to when he was a WWE star before he became famous in Hollywood.
He described the Rams as a team with “a soul-crushingly unrelenting defense” as well as the Bengals as an “electrifying team that rose from the ashes to be one of the most fearsome, dominant, and electrifying in the NFL.”
Johnson was a former football player for the University of Miami. He won a national championship there in 1991.
He said, “It’s time for us all to be witnesses to these amazing players, who will leave every bit of sweat, guts and legacy out there on this hallowed ground, because that’s what champions do.” “Ladies, gentlemen, I have the honor to say: “Finally, it’s time for the Suuuper Boooooowwwl!”
OTHER ANTHEMS
Guyton’s “Star Spangled Banner”, was actually the last part of a trio of anthemic pregame tunes.
Just 40 minutes before kickoff, Rams and Bengals lined up in the end zones. Outside, near SoFi Stadium’s lake was Mary Mary, a gospel duo, and the LA Phil’s Youth Orchestra Los Angeles performing “Lift Every Voice, Sing,” which is now the unofficial Black national anthem.
Trecina Atkins Campbell and Erica Campbell, the sisters, were raised in the same area as the Super Bowl stadium.
Jhene Aiko, a singer from Guyton, brought a unique combination of R&B harp to her rendition “America the Beautiful.”
NBC’s telecast misidentified Guyton briefly as Aiko, just as Aiko began to sing.
Sandra Mae Frank, actress, performed “The Star Spangled Banner”, and “America the Beautiful” in American Sign Language.
STARS ON BIG SCREEN
Celebrities performed during commercial breaks at SoFi Stadium, providing entertainment for the Super Bowl’s first Hollywood-adjacent Super Bowl.
The crowd cheered when Kevin Hart gave kisses, Chris Tucker & Charlize Theron danced, and Doja Cat & Danny Trejo waved.
Jennifer Lopez seemed to not notice that she was on the big 360-degree screen.
A shot of a man wearing a hoodie and seated next to Antonio Brown, an NFL player, sparked speculation about his identity on social media.
Local sports heroes in Los Angeles, such as Clayton Kershaw, former Dodgers pitcher, and Shaquille and Shaquille O’Neal, were the most enthusiastic cheers.
